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Boro's squad starts to shape up

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@philip-of-huddersfield.  A good summary and like you I still feel we are missing a central midfielder  who can dictate the play.  Let's hope the lad from Argentina has that in his locker.

As for Akpom, he is slow in thought and action and I cannot see him going anywhere; I fear that we will be unable to move him on, not due to his wage demands but purely his lack of ability/goal scoring record.  It sounds as if a move to Turkey is all paper talk based upon NW's comments to the EG! 😎


   
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Thoughts on watching the whole match live.

Tav is no wingback but he ran the game when got moved to attacking midfield. Thought Jones did well when he came on as a wingback. Think I would have rather seen him get a chance to prove himself.

Akpom is not *bad* but he's not a striker who can play with his back to goal. If we can't sell him he may do ok playing alongside Ikpeazu. He's best with ball to feet running at the defence. 

Fry still doesn't look comfortable playing on the left of a three.

Peltier is looking like a really good buy. May not be a regular starter but he gives off real confidence. Definitely a good option for the right of a defensive three.

Dijksteel still looked off the pace and didn't offer much. It may take him a while to get back to his best.

Lumley was hardly worked. Distribution was fine but he seemed uncertain more than once.

I think Malley is a real prospect. Even in his short spell he seems able to dictate the pace of a game.

McNair playing on the right of a three gives him a lot of licence to get forwards.

I really enjoyed watching Ikpeazu play. He has skill and awareness as well as strength. 

Morsy looked much happier being stuck in front of the defence. He may lack some of the playmaking vision of Howson but he's going to be essential for us.

Crooks looked rusty but also looks like a really good buy.

Watmore gets frustrated when things aren't going for him but never stops working.

I've been frustrated by Spence over the last 12 months but he did well when he came on.

Patterson tried hard but nothing really came off. Can't really judge him on this performance.

Conceded goal was poor. 

Overall the team did play like people still learning a system and learning each others' games. If they can step up the pace and understanding at which they play then you feel we should be looking at the top 6 rather than mid-table.


Philip of Huddersfield
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Lovely article on the Boro website about Sol Bamba and his relationship with NW. Sol seems a really genuine guy who would be good at coaching young players.

PHILIP OF HUDDERSFIELD 


   
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MIDDLESBROUGH FACING LATE COMPETITION FROM TOP-FLIGHT CLUB FOR MIDFIELDER SIGNING.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/middlesbrough-facing-late-competition-from-top-flight-club-for-midfielder-signing/

Football League World are reporting that Boro are now facing competition from Italian Seria A side Cagliari for the signature of Martin Payero.

Fingers crossed we do not suffer another highjack job as has happened in the past! 😎

 

 

This post was modified 3 years ago by K P in Spain

   
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@k-p-in-spain

As we know, a deal is not a deal unless it's been signed sealed and delivered - apparently there have been a few financial loose ends that have still not been agreed so there's always a risk of it collapsing at the 11th hour. I suspect if Banfield or Payero open any negotiations with Cagliari then Boro should simply threaten to walk away - they may not take the risk of losing a deal with Boro as it would give the Italians more negotiating power if they're the only buyer. If Payero is serious about wanting the move to Teesside then he has no reason to consider other options at this point - if he's still open to other offers then perhaps better to move on as we've a few decent options in his position who are quite keen to play for Boro.


   
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@original-fat-bob

Sol Bamba will be 37 in January so I can only see him as a budget cover option but I'd rather see Nathan Wood get pitch time instead. As for Mendez-Laing, he had the offer of training with Boro in pre-season but never took it up so I doubt he's going to end up on Teesside. Junior Hoillett has apparently been in talks but he's one of those who has wage demands beyond what Boro will want to pay. Kadeem Harris is out of contract but didn't do much in his 38 appearances (30 starts) for Wednesday last season with no goals but 4 assists - again I'd rather see a Boro youngster like Jeremy Sivi get the pitch time instead. No reason to sign players unless they will add quality to the squad as I can't see any of those being linked being starters really.


   
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@werdermouth.  Agree wholeheartedly with your take on the situation if it unfolds as has been reported. 😎


   
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I can see a rationale for signing up Bamba on either a pay as you play or short term contract until the end of January. Having an experienced player who is willing to sit on the bench until needed and can be influential in the dressing room is not a bad thing at all. After keepers, central defenders are probably the players who maintain their ability for longest. Overall I wouldn't be worried if we didn't sign him but would be ok if we did.

I would like to see Wood get a decent run out but even if we play a back three he may struggle for game time unless we have injuries. I also think we're weakest on the left side of the three because none of our centre backs look comfortable there. 


   
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Posted by: @deleriad

I also think we're weakest on the left side of the three because none of our centre backs look comfortable there. 

I agree and we have suffered in the past by putting square pegs in round holes.  If we are to get the best from Dale Fry then he needs to be on the right of the three or in the middle; he has been played on the left before and usually looked out of position and never as effective. 😎


   
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@werdermouth

Absolutely agree, Werder.  We don't want a situation where old lags from other clubs are stifling the chances of our own youngsters. Where is Josh Coburn, for example?  Is he down in Devon with the squad?  He seems to have virtually disappeared since his wonderful debut and outstanding goal.  He should be a regular on the bench next season, but he rarely gets a mention as a possible striker option and didn't appear amongst the multitude of subs at Plymouth.

Similarly Connor Malley was my M-o-M on his debut, and Sky pundit, Don Goodman, was of the same opinion.  Warnock's reaction was to express disbelief at such a verdict, and to ask if it was his Dad who had nominated him. Again he has largely been forgotten, yet came on at Plymouth and made an immediate impact.  The withdrawal of Crooks transformed our lumbering midfield into a much more creative and progressive unit with Tav playing behind the striker and combining well with Malley.

The signing of Crooks worries me.  It looks as though he will be playing just behind the main striker(s).  In other words he will be occupying Tav's best position, though he demonstrably lacks Tav's skill on the ball, his pace, creativity, work-rate, stamina, and most of the other qualities you might want in an attacking midfielder.  That playing Tav as a wing-back to accommodate the new lad  was a retrograde step was amply demonstrated by the way we took control of the game after the change was made.  

So why did we sign Crooks? Well, to begin with, I doubt whether we would have shown much interest if he had been 5' 8". He fulfils the basic- very basic - Pulis- Warnock criteria of being a big lad, who can look after himself, will weigh in with a few goals and should be useful at set pieces at either end. CVs don't get more basic or depressing than those that are most admired by good old English managers.

Well Crooks got his goal thanks to an amazing piece of skill by Ickpeazu who managed to find an acute angle pull-back from the bye-line at full stretch for the new boy to drive home. But our set piece play could hardly have been worse, consisting as it did of  a multitude of poor crosses and the conceding of a goal from a corner when Crooks lost his man. As for the ex-Rotherham man's general play, I saw nothing to persuade me that my admittedly premature and extremely unfair assessment that we might have signed a duffer might be, well, premature and extremely unfair.  Then again I felt the same about Grant Hall on the basis of his early appearances, so the lad has plenty of time to leave me similarly egg-faced.

There was little danger of that at Plymouth, however.  Crooks was largely anonymous and was part of a pedestrian midfield that was generally out-manoeuvred by a Plymouth side who played the ball out from the back, frequently embarrassed us with their skill and quick movement, but failed to penetrate our back line.

It isn't only Tav's position that may be compromised by Crooks' signing.  It could clog up the line of progression for a rejuvenated Lewis Wing, to say nothing of Connor Malley, Hackney, Sivi, Jones and a number of other promising youngsters, who represent our best hope for a post-Warnock future.

So yes, Werder, absolutely agree.

 

 

 

This post was modified 3 years ago 3 times by lenmasterman

   
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@lenmasterman

I think this is unfair on Crooks. Pretty much the universal talk about him is that he is fast, skilful and intelligent. Given that he had never played with the team before he had as good a debut as you can hope for. He was playing as part of a midfield two with Morsy. Warnock seems to be favouring a 3-4-1-2 where the 4 consists of two wingbacks, 1 holding midfielder and 1 attacking. Tav can play the attacking midfield role as well as well as the no 10 role. I believe he only played wingback because of a late injury to Coulson.

It's early days but at the moment Ikpeazu and Crooks look like really good signings. They may be big but they are both skilful and intelligent and, crucially, they seem to have an instinct to bring other players into the game. 

 


   
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Back to local football, and following my observations about Redcar Athletic and their defeat by a Boro Academy side. On Saturday a third defeat in a row, this time a 0-5 thrashing at Marske. I realise it was only a friendly local derby and that Marske United are now an established Northern Premier League club, but the last 3 defeats seem to confirm my concerns that the Steelmen may find themselves in a relegation battle this season. It’s usually difficult in the minor leagues for promoted clubs to establish themselves in higher leagues, so well done to Stockton Town for gaining 3 promotions in 4 seasons. 

There appears to be a similar problem with Boro’s nearest rivals Hartlepool United. From the euphoria of gaining promotion back to the EFL after 4 years, Saturday’s 1-4 defeat to Conference North club Gateshead doesn’t fill me with much hope for the future either. I hadn’t realised that so many of their players were on loan, and Dave Challinor is finding it difficult to find replacements. With only a fortnight away from the start of the season and because of the elongated playoff system from the Conference League the Pools have found themselves 3 weeks behind established Division 2 clubs in signing new players. It would be a crying shame if Pools were relegated this coming season because I reckon another promotion from the Conference League would be much harder in the future. Just look at the list of Conference League clubs who only recently were in the EFL - Aldershot, Barnet, Chesterfield, Grimsby, Halifax, Notts County, Stockport, Southend, Torquay, Wrexham and Yeovil. That’s almost half the make up of next season’s clubs. Surely the hardest League in the Country to escape from, but yet Barrow and Harrogate have so far survived at least for one more season, Forest Green reached the playoffs whilst Lincoln and Oxford are now established Division One clubs, so it can be done but that first season is critical.

 


   
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@deleriad

I agree with you, deleriad.  As I said, my assessment of Crooks is premature and extremely unfair and I hope it's mistaken.  But it's based, for better or worse, on what I have seen of him.  He scored an outstanding goal against the Boro, but followed it up by missing the kind of sitter that would even have embarrassed Britt, and then getting himself sent off.  I also saw a few Rotherham games last season, as a way of keeping tabs on Wing's progress. Lewis was generally outstanding and had the kind of skill and vision that no one else in the Rotherham team, including Crooks, could match. The big man worked hard and was a 100%-er, but his touch was poor, and I saw nothing in him that could justify a million pound valuation or was an improvement on what we already had in midfield.  As I said, I saw nothing in the Plymouth game to make me revise that opinion.  Apart from his goal he was inconspicuous to the point of anonymity.

It would be a supreme irony if Crooks' signing resulted in Wing being put back in the queue for places.

So I was reporting back on my impressions and owning up to their limitations. My evidence base is insubstantial, but at least it is first hand, and for the moment I'm prepared to back that against the even less substantial "universal talk" which says that he is fast, skilful and intelligent, qualities which he may well possess but which have been well hidden whenever I have seen him play.

My little squib was also provoked by the kind of OTT coverage we have been getting from the Gazette which made him M-o-M against Plymouth, and included an assessment from a Rotherham journalist, which spoke of him in glowing terms, but contained the astonishing admission that although he stood at 6' 7" in his socks, he wasn't very good in the air.

What? Pardon? Isn't this a bit like saying that we have just signed an outstanding nippy 5'6" midfielder, but unfortunately he hasn't got any balance and keeps falling over his own feet?

Anyway, I consider all of this good pre-season fun.  I do wish the lad all the best, sincerely hope he does well and proves, not for the first and certainly not for the last time, that in spite of over 80 years of playing, watching and enjoying the beautiful game, that I can't spot a decent footballer from a mile off.


   
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Posted by: @lenmasterman

@werdermouth

Absolutely agree, Werder.  We don't want a situation where old lags from other clubs are stifling the chances of our own youngsters. Where is Josh Coburn, for example?  Is he down in Devon with the squad?  He seems to have virtually disappeared since his wonderful debut and outstanding goal.  He should be a regular on the bench next season, but he rarely gets a mention as a possible striker option and didn't appear amongst the multitude of subs at Plymouth.

An answer of sorts, Len:

https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/highlights-preston-north-end-xi-0-boro-xi-5-0


   
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@stircrazy

Thanks for that.  I'd missed it. Why Josh isn't down in Devon with the rest of the most promising kids is a mystery to me.


   
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Middlesbrough have made a loan offer to bring Flamengo striker Rodrigo Muniz to the Riverside, according to reports in South America (via Teesside Live).

Middlesbrough recently made the acquisition of striker Uche Ikpeazu from Wycombe Wanderers to bolster their attacking options, yet manager Neil Warnock is not done there. Earlier in the window the veteran boss admitted he was looking for ‘two or even three’ new forwards

OFB


   
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@original-fat-bob.  The article to which you are referring is dated the 8th of July.  I think that the player in question has offers elsewhere and is unlikely to be coming to us; unless of course you have an up to date source! 😎

This post was modified 3 years ago by K P in Spain

   
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Posted by: @k-p-in-spain

@original-fat-bob.  The article to which you are referring is dated the 8th of July.  I think that the player in question has offers elsewhere and is unlikely to be coming to us; unless of course you have an up to date source! 😎

It is reported today that Fulham have had an equal bid, to Boro’s loan bid, rejected because the club is looking for a sale rather than a loan.

Come on BORO.


   
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

Middlesbrough have made a loan offer to bring Flamengo striker Rodrigo Muniz to the Riverside, according to reports in South America (via Teesside Live).

Middlesbrough recently made the acquisition of striker Uche Ikpeazu from Wycombe Wanderers to bolster their attacking options, yet manager Neil Warnock is not done there. Earlier in the window the veteran boss admitted he was looking for ‘two or even three’ new forwards

OFB

Flamengo only own 50% of the Player and he is in now in talks with Genk in Belgium I believe and even then I think they only want to sell a percentage of him. Sounds like a pantomime and best keeping out of it.


   
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Livestream York City vs Boro

York are delighted to announce that a YouTube Livestream will be available for supporters to watch from home.

The Livestream will be available from the official York City FC YouTube channel. Coverage from 6:45pm.

I doubt if they have more than one camera available so the quality can be worse than at Plymouth.

Up the Boro! 


   
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@redcarred

Middlesbrough held a meeting on Monday night with Brazilian club Flamengo as they try to arrange the transfer of striker Rodrigo Muniz to the Riverside.

 

 

Boro boss Neil Warnock is keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the new Championship season and the club have zeroed in on Muniz.

 

Stepping up their interest, Warnock’s men met with Muniz’s club side Flamengo in a Lisbon hotel on Monday night, according to Brazilian outlet UOL.

 Middlesbrough are looking to sign the striker on a season-long loan with an option, or potentially an obligation, to buy.

 

It is claimed that the talks at a luxury Lisbon hotel between Flamengo and Middlesbrough lasted for a substantial amount of time.

 

 

However, Middlesbrough are not the only side bidding to sign Muniz this summer as Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nasr are also keen.

 

They are willing to splash out €4m to secure 50 per cent of the striker’s economic rights.

 

Muniz, 20, is under contract with Flamengo for a further three years.

 

The striker progressed through the youth system at the Brazilian club and won the 2020 Brazilian league title.

 

 

 


   
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And from the Northern Echo

OVERNIGHT reports suggest that Middlesbrough have met with Flamengo's representatives to discuss a potential move for Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz. 

According to Brazilian media outlet Coluna Do Fla, Flamengo vice-president Marcos Braz and executive director Bruno Spindel met with Boro's Chief Executive Neil Bausor and first-team coach Leo Percovich to thrash out the terms of a possible deal for the 20-year-old. 

UOL Columnist Bruno Andrade believes that Boro would be interested in a season-long loan deal for Muniz, who has featured over 30 times for Flamengo, with the option to make the move permanent.

 

Neil Warnock has told the media that the club are scouting players in South America with the club using Percovich knowledge of the continent to their advantage. Boro are also on the cusp of completing a move for Argentine midfielder Martin Payero, who has completed a medical ahead of a potential move to Teesside. 

It's understood that newly relegated Fulham are providing competition for Boro and have already made an approach for Muniz, with the Brazilian side rejecting their offer. 

 

However, the Cottagers are said to be preparing another offer with Muniz keen on a move to Craven Cottage. While Boro would struggle to match the financial pull of a move to Fulham, Boro's links within South America could play a significant role in striking a deal with Flamengo.

If Muniz were to make the move to Teesside, he would become Boro's sixth summer signing


   
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

Boro's links within South America could play a significant role in striking a deal with Flamengo

I think Fulham Manager Marco Silva speaking Portuguese might trump "Boro's links" somehow.


   
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Slightly off topic but it was lovely to learn from the club website that the friendly match against Bishop Auckland has raised £5k for The Rainbow Appeal at the James Cook hospital.  

Well done to all those involved and for the generosity of the donations. 😎


   
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@redcarred

Still, I hope the club have not undersold the prospect of living near Flamengo Park to the player...


   
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Although, I hope I'm not the only one feeling worried by the fact that our two South American targets are seemingly pronounced Payero and 'Monies' is something of bad omen in terms of the potential reported financial outlay...


   
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Lewis Wing departs our squad for the Owls!

There must be incomings expected shortly.


   
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@redcarred

Bizarre decision given Wing was the pick of the midfielders in pre-season and looked to have impressed Warnock - plus with him out of contract at the end of the season does that mean he will probably leave as a free agent unless somehow he's been simultaneously sent out on loan and offered a new contract.

Must mean Payero has finalised his deal otherwise Boro could be left with red faces with neither playmaker midfielder in a red shirt.


   
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